Bahama Islands

January 2014

Part 1 : Grand Bahama

female Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)

I arrived on the Bahamas a couple of days ago for the start of a 24-day trip and have so far been spending my time exploring the island of Grand Bahama. The weather hasn't been great so far, with dull, overcast skies and drizzly rain a lot of the time but despite this I've still managed to get many good photos of the birdlife.

female Bahama Yellowthroat (Geothlypis rostrata)

female Bahama Yellowthroat (Geothlypis rostrata)

Bahama Yellowthroat is endemic to the northern Bahama Islands. The female is similar to Common Yellowthroat, a winter visitor to the Bahamas, but can be differentiated by its larger size; longer, thicker bill; rufous forehead and more extensive yellow on the underparts extending down to the belly. A female Common Yellowthroat is shown below for comparison.

female Common Yellowthroat (Gthlypis trichas)

Other Caribbean endemics present on Grand Bahama included Cuban Pewee, Cuban Emerald and Western Spindalis.

Cuban Pewee (Contopus caribaeus)

Western Spindalis (Spindalis zena)

female Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii)

Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)

Smooth-billed Ani is fairly common and is usually seen roaming around in noisy family groups.

Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)

A pair of American Kestrels were holding a territory very close to where I was staying and were extremely cooperative at times.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

female American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

male American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

female Brown Anole (Anolis sagrae)

Raccoons were extremely tame and came to scrounge for tidbits from the tourists while they were eating their lunches, taking the pro-offered food with extreme delicacy and gentleness.

American Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

American Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Bahama Islands pt.2